Man City in pole position to sign Lionel Messi if the Argentine chooses to leave Barcelona

The prospect of Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona seems possible now, according to TalkSport. There is a genuine concern at Barcelona that the Argentine superstar may choose to leave them at the end of the season – for free, confirmed Spanish football journalist Jon Hernandez.

Messi is out of contract next summer but there is a clause in his contract which would allow him to leave for free at the end of this season.

The public fall out between Lionel Messi and Barcelona’s sporting director Eric Abidal has caught the attention of football giants around the world, including Manchester City, Juventus and Manchester United. Among them, Manchester City are believed to be the front-runners for the Argentine’s signature should he leave Barcelona at the end of the season.

Abidal criticised the work rate of Barcelona’s players towards the end of the former head coach Ernesto Valverde’s reign. Valverde was replaced by Quique Setien last month.

Messi immediately hit back at Eric Abidal on social media.

Those in charge of sporting direction should also face up to their responsibilities and above all take charge of their own decisions. When you talk about players you should give names, otherwise you are tainting everyone’s name and feeding rumours which are not true.”

– Lionel Messi

While most pundits in England think the chances of Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona is low, Spanish football journalist Jon Hernandez has claimed otherwise.

It’s the first time that the biggest star of Barcelona has been publicly critical of the club.”

“Abidal’s comments were the last thing Messi expected from the club, and his response on social media has created really big controversy around Barcelona.

“Things are now really, really big. Barcelona are playing tonight in the Copa del Rey against Athletic Bilbao but nobody is talking about the game, everyone is just talking about Messi and his future in Barcelona.

“He’s getting older, he turns 33 this year, and it could be a chance for another club and a big chance for Manchester City who have always been around him.”